Ukraine, Saudi Arabia to launch mass production of An-132 planes in 2021

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Ukraine, Saudi Arabia to launch mass production of An-132 planes in 2021

Source: Xinhua 2018-03-14 02:46:02

KIEV, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Saudi Arabia will launch the joint serial production of the An-132 light multipurpose planes in 2021, Ukrainian state-run aircraft producer Antonov said in a statement Tuesday.
The aircraft, which was developed by Antonov in cooperation with the Saudi company Taqnia Aeronautics, will be built at the aircraft-building plant in a technology park in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
The construction of the plant will start in 2019 and set to be completed within nine months, it said.
The An-132 aircraft with a top speed of some 500 km per hour, which is able to serve the short and medium range air routes, was unveiled to the public in December 2016.
The multi-purpose plane, capable of carrying up to 9.2 tons of cargo, could be used in emergency medicine, fire-fighting, skydiving, cargo transportation and reconnaissance missions.
According to Antonov, the distinctive feature of the new aircraft is that it can operate on the unpaved runways, in mountainous areas and in difficult climatic conditions.
The Ukrainian government has estimated the market demand for the An-132 at between 260 and 290 planes by 2035.

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